Don Callis
Don Callis | |
---|---|
Birth name | Donald Callis |
Born | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | October 13, 1963
Alma mater | University of Manitoba (BA, MBA) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Cyrus Cyrus the Virus Don Callis Don Casablancas Lord Cyrus Sidewinder Singh The General The Jackyl The Natural |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
Billed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
Billed from | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Trained by | Tony Condello |
Debut | 1989 |
Donald Callis (born October 13, 1963) is a Canadian
A former wrestler, Callis spent the majority of his career performing as either Cyrus (shortened from Cyrus the Virus) or Don Callis. He first gained international attention working under the name The Jackyl for the
Professional wrestling career
West Four Wrestling Alliance/International Wrestling Alliance (1989–1998)
Callis was trained by Manitoba wrestling promoter Tony Condello, debuting in 1989 in Condello's West Four Wrestling Alliance (WFWA) promotion under his birth name. Later that year, Callis adopted the ring name "The Natural". In May 1991, The Natural won the WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship. Between 1991 and 1994, he held the championship a total of four times. In 1994, the West Four Wrestling Alliance was renamed the International Wrestling Alliance (IWA). Callis held the IWA Heavyweight Championship twice in 1996.
In 1992, Callis wrestled for the Quebec-based Lutte Lanaudière as "The General", teaming with El Diablero as "The Jet Set Team". The Jet Set Team held the Lutte Lanaudière Tag Team Championship for eight months.
World Wrestling Federation (1996–1998)
The Truth Commission (1996–1998)
Callis received a try-out match with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1996 and was eventually hired to form a tag team with Rick Martel, which was dubbed "The Models". When Martel officially departed from the WWF for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Callis was left without a gimmick and spot on WWF television. In a shoot interview with RF Video, Callis first revealed that he and Rick Martel were set to debut on WWF TV as "The Supermodels" in 1997, before he would eventually turn on Martel, turning Martel into a babyface for the first time since Martel walked out on his former teammate Tito Santana at WrestleMania V. Callis later reaffirmed that he and Martel were set to debut as a team during an interview with WWE.com in 2015.[citation needed]
On September 20, 1997, Callis debuted in the WWF as "The Jackyl", a member (and eventually leader) of a group of wrestlers known as "
The Oddities and The Acolytes (1998)
Callis returned to television in 1998, forming a stable known as "The Parade of Human Oddities" (later known as simply "The Oddities"). The group consisted of "freakish" wrestlers, including Golga (a masked Earthquake) and Kurrgan, among others. The group had entrance music performed by the Insane Clown Posse. The stable did not last long, and Callis eventually started managing the new tag team of Faarooq and Bradshaw, "The Acolytes", until he was released by the WWF. Callis claims he was released by Bruce Prichard for "getting himself over at the expense of the talent". Shortly after being released, Callis began writing weekly wrestling columns for the Sun Media Group and co-hosted a local Winnipeg radio show called "No Holds Barred" with Joe Aiello on CITI-FM.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)
In mid-1999, Callis debuted in
Cyrus then displayed authority in ECW due to his executive position with the network, working as a heel to crusade against ECW fan favorites (in
Following this, Cyrus (kayfabe) canceled
Independent circuit (2001–2003, 2018)
With ECW out of business and WCW, which had expressed interest in signing Callis, purchased by the WWF, Callis returned to university, eventually earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Following ECW's closing, Callis wrestled on the independent circuit, primarily appearing for Canadian promotions such as the Prairie Wrestling Association, Pro Outlaw Wrestling, and Top Rope Championship Wrestling. From 2001 to 2002, he appeared with Border City Wrestling, holding the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship with Terry Taylor.[4][5] Callis also briefly operated the No Holds Barred Wrestling Camp, a Winnipeg-based wrestling training camp.
On July 13, 2018, it was announced Callis would serve as part of the broadcast team for the September 1
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2004)
In 2003, Callis debuted in
In storyline, Callis engaged in a power struggle with then Director of Authority Erik Watts and used his power to make life difficult for Jerry Lynn, repeatedly fining and suspending him. On January 28, 2004, Callis succeeded in ousting Watts from TNA when he defeated him in a match for control of the promotion, though he quietly departed TNA soon afterward.[7]
Retirement (2004–2017)
Callis departed from TNA on good terms in 2004, having been offered a job in International trade that made use of his MBA. While having generally retired from professional wrestling, Callis made an appearance at the ECW reunion show Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005.
Following his departure from TNA, Callis began writing weekly wrestling columns for the
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2017–2019)
On January 17, 2017, Callis announced that he had accepted an offer to become the new English color commentator for
Callis stopped commentating for NJPW after Dominion 2019.
Return to Impact (2017–2021)
On December 5, 2017,
On April 22, 2018, Callis served as the color commentator for the
In May 2021, it was reported that Callis' time as Impact executive vice president has ended, though he would remain as an on-air talent.[11] On the June 17 episode of Impact!, Callis role as executive vice president was terminated by Tommy Dreamer.
All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)
Managing Kenny Omega (2020–2023)
Callis made his
On December 2, 2020, at Winter Is Coming, Callis was a special guest commentator for the AEW World Championship match between the champion Jon Moxley and the challenger Omega. During the match, Callis helped Omega win the title. When asked about his interference, he assured everyone that their questions would get answered on the December 8 episode of Impact!. On December 9, Callis returned to Dynamite, arriving by helicopter with Omega. Callis then revealed he had been planning Omega's championship victory since both men first met in their native country of Canada decades ago.
On the 29 March 2023 edition of Dynamite, Callis was featured in a backstage interview alongside Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks which was interrupted by an attack from the Blackpool Combat Club.[12] During the segment Jon Moxley struck Callis, who fell into a lighting rig and Callis' head caught the edge of the Barn Door portion of the rig.[13][14] This legitimately caused a large wound on Callis' head which later left him with a prominent scar.[15][16]
The Don Callis Family (2023–present)
On the May 10, 2023 episode of Dynamite, during a steel cage match between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley, Callis turned on Omega, stabbing him with a screwdriver which allowed Moxley to get the win. At Double or Nothing, Callis allied himself with Konosuke Takeshita, after he delivered a jumping knee strike to Omega.[17]
During a post-show press conference at Triplemanía XXXI Tijuana, Callis was legitimately assaulted by a man who mistook the proceedings as real. Callis was there as a continued part of the storyline in which he had turned on Kenny Omega in favour of Takeshita. The man attacked Callis from behind, punching him in the mouth and concussing his eardrum. Callis suffered further injuries to his neck and ankle and immediately went to San Diego to seek medical attention.[18][19]
At Grand Slam, Callis recruited Sammy Guevara to his family, after he turned on Chris Jericho.[20] In October 2023, Powerhouse Hobbs and Kyle Fletcher joined the Don Callis Family. On the December 28, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite New Years Smash, Sammy Guevara returned and crashed The Don Callis Family's Boxing Week Celebration, Callis got Guevara a custom portrait with his new baby and his family, Guevara turned on Don Callis and the family attacked Guevara until Chris Jericho saved him from the family, Guevara reunited with Jericho until Big Bill and Ricky Starks attacked Jericho and Guevara, Sting and Darby Allin come to Jericho and Guevara's rescue. [21][22]
Championships and accomplishments
- Amateur Wrestling Association
- AWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with El Diablero[23]
- Border City Wrestling
- BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Terry Taylor[4][24]
- Lutte Lanaudière
- Lutte Lanaudière Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Diablero[24]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 345 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500in 2002
- Ranked No. 345 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the
- West Four Wrestling Alliance/International Wrestling Alliance
- IWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[24]
- WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (5 times)[4][24]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Non-Wrestler (2023)[25]
References
- ^ DeFelice, Robert (May 31, 2021). "Tony Khan Says Don Callis Is Part Of The AEW Team, He Could Be With Kenny Omega For Years To Come". Fightful. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-55490-287-3.
- ISBN 978-1-326-50746-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4766-0505-0.
- ^ "Cyrus". Cagematch.de. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "HERE'S OUR BROADCAST TEAM". ALL IN 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-55490-268-2.
- ^ Cyrus, Lance Storm and. "PodcastOne: Killing the Town". podcastone.com. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (January 17, 2017). "NJPW World finds its new lead English color commentary voice". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (December 5, 2017). "Scott D'Amore & Don Callis named executive VPs of Impact Wrestling". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Andrew (May 20, 2021). "REPORT: Don Callis no longer in Vice President role with IMPACT Wrestling". Post Wrestling. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Wilen, Jerome (29 March 2023). "News From 3/29 AEW Dynamite: Kenny Omega attacked; Don Callis legitimately injured". Wrestleview. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (29 March 2023). "Don Callis reportedly injured in AEW Dynamite angle". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Siino, John (3 May 2023). "AEW Dynamite Results: MJF & Guevara vs. Darby & Jungle Boy". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (May 28, 2023). "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of MJF vs. Darby Allin vs. Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara in a four-way for the AEW World Championship, The Elite vs. BCC in Anarchy in the Arena, Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm for the AEW Women's Title, Jade Cargill vs. Taya Valkyrie for the TBS Title, Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho in an unsanctioned match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (16 July 2023). "Don Callis attacked by fan following AAA Triplemania XXXI Tijuana". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Pollock, John (17 July 2023). "POLLOCK'S UPDATE: Best Matches of the Weekend, Callis attacked, Raw sold out in ATL". POST Wrestling. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (September 20, 2023). "AEW Dynamite results (9/20): Powell's live review of MJF vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW World Title, Saraya vs. Toni Storm for the AEW Women's Title, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston in a title vs. title match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- F4WOnline.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ Has Pizzazz, Manolo (October 28, 2023). "Don Callis adds a new member to his Family in AEW". CageSideSeats. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ "Don Callis title history".
- ^ a b c d "Cyrus – Titles". Cagematch.de. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave. "February 26, 2024 Observer Newsletter: 2023 Observer Awards issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
External links
- Don Callis on Twitter
- Don Callis at IMDb
- Don Callis's profile at Cagematch.net